Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

Ok  that's interesting. Do you just glue the stem hole or the back of eye?

I think I would be tempted to use the plastic safety joints in a crochet item. You can get black or white in the uk. They come in two parts, male and female and they just push together.

This can be a little difficult at times so I use my eyelet press.

Hi all

Hope this is in the right place, but please move if not...

I am looking to take my bears to a fair at the end of April and am now looking for Personal Liability and Product Insurance.  As this is only a Hobby and will never be a fully fledged business I don't/cant really be spending the earth on insurance.

I have phoned around and have got quotes from £200-£500 for the year.  In all honesty, even if I sold as many bears I could make I doubt I would be able to pay all that for insurance alone.. One guy very rudely laughed at me when I said that was extremely expensive (the £500 one)...

Can anyone in the UK recommend anyone?  I will only be doing about 4 fairs from now till the end of the year...

Thanks
Adele

Hi there, yes thank you ... That's exactly how I'm doing them, but for some reason it occurred to me it may somehow wear off in years to come ..

I've had some fabulous results with them. The sparkle ones look great xx

Just a quick query..

I have started painting my own teddy bear eyes and have been using different nail varnishes to get some great effects.

After colouring I have been putting a top coat over the colour and then applied to the bear..

A though suddenly occurred to me that what if the varnish ever deteriorates?  Does that happen then peal off?  Or is there some thing better to seal them with?

Thanks Adele

Wow that is fabulous... I already have your website in my favourites list... You make fabulous huggables xx

Have you tried stuffing the arms and legs first before fitting? That's the way I work and never seem to have any problems. I also use pliers not a cotter pin tool

Hi again

Ok I got the furs. 2 rabbit and one lovely mink stole.

I have read lots on this fab site and taken on board all that has been said. I have cut my first head out in one of the rabbit furs just for a practise. The skin was lovely and supple so I had no problems there. I have had a play at trimming the face today... First time ever as I work in felt... Ahem , well, what shall I say, practise makes perfect! I think my pattern was just slightly the wrong shape and the fur is quite thin with it being rabbit so I knew it would be a challenge ... I think maybe the next one I may insert the muzzle so I can felt it... Not sure yet... Watch this space ;-)

Hi there, thank you for that. I am going to see what condition it's in first before I decide whether to hand or machine sew. My machine will manage leather, it's just whether the skin will be too delicate.

One is a grey rabbit coat. One is a dark brown stole which may be mink?? Really not sure but it has tails as tassles too... The other coat is a lighter foxy red but quite fine so maybe rabbit again? I havnt had a good look yet as still in bag in boot of car... Can't wait though to check them out properly... Fingers crossed I can do something with them ....

Hello all

I've had a good luck through the "real fur" library but can't seem to find what I'm looking for. I am about to acquire some fur coats and if the condition is ok I would like to try my best at making my first fur bear.

I am just wanting to know the best type of thread to sew with for the main sewing, whether it be by hand or my machine. I generally use a bonded nylon for this but wasn't sure it would be ok on the hide. I know to increase stitch length, and general advise is to use a synthetic sinew to stitch up... So advise would be much appreciated please.

Thank you

I was going to suggest a spray on interfacing (not sure iron on would be safe) on the inside... that's if you didn't want to darn it?

This is Esme

I have been planning on using a big colour mix of fibres for a while.  I have a few lots mixed so hoping for various different results with them.  I am also planning to lay the fibres in different ways also when felting them, which will give completely different looks to each bear.

Esme has been made with a rainbow mix of Merino wool and silk fibres in the main, with alpaca fibres used for her ears and pads.

She is for sale on bearpile....

That is beautiful... I love the bunnies.. x

I love her little face... do you mind me asking what you used to line her eyes?  Sorry I am very new to this and still in the experimental stage... I have no idea when it comes to the "art" side... sewing and fiddling I can manage, paints, pens etc, I am clueless! 

Have you dyed fabrics a while?  I am contemplating trying to dye some fibres myself, but not sure I could cope with the mess... is it easy to contain?

lovely cute bear too xx

again these are all using the same pattern but I have tried to give each one their own face.....

thanks for all your comments...

Michelle, the bears stand around 15" and that all depends on what wool I have used on them and how much the needle felting "Shrinks" the pattern pieces... I cut the backing out first then felt them so each and every bear will come out slightly different with that.

The heads are always done by hand after they are stuffed and I now put the muzzle on after by needle felting... the bodies I do by hand too depending on the look I want, or occasionally I use a felting machine.... 

I don't sleep very well so all the felting can be done sat up in bed     ... so time wise its good use of waking hours! ha ha

absolutely fantastic.. congrats...

I am loving your bears... beautiful xx

oops trying to edit the picture to make bigger....

with much trepidation I am showing you my bear... I am very new to bear making (a month) and have been trying to get the faces to have more character...  I needle felt my fabric first, then make up the bear in the traditional way using cotter pin joints and polyester filling....

This little guy has been made using Jacob sheep wool in a "pebble" colour (hence his name, original hey??!! ha ha), and he has cream Adrik Astrakahn wool points and pads...

He is for sale but I will be happy to take any pointers on making improvements... ps my photography skills are not great and seem to show the bears out of proportion... think its the angle some times...

Many thanks Elli that's great :-)

Thanks for your reply Elli. Do you use a round cord then ? What diameter? I'm going to order some to try out.
Adele

Hi there

I am just trying to get better eye set and am looking at lids and colouring.  I am just wondering what type of cording most people use please?  I needle felt my bears over a base so have had a go at felting lids, but I think I would like to try the cording method too to see what I prefer.  Also what type of glue would you then use if you wanted to secure with glue after the lids have been threaded through the head?

Also, could anyone please tell me the best type of pen markers would be good to shade the nose edges and around the eyes?   I don't think I am up to the air brushing as yet as I think I will only need fine markings.

Thank you

oops edited to ask, where in the UK could I buy the cording etc I will need if not standard.... thanks